Flower Mound ponies up big bucks in water lawsuit

by Staff of Lantana Links

FLOWER MOUND — Flower Mound officials handed over a fat check Friday to the Upper Trinity Regional Water District.

The town paid $516,454 in attorney fees connected to a three-year old lawsuit against the regional water supplier.

Flower Mound sued Upper Trinity in 2004 for breach of contract, in response to the district's plans to build a new reservoir in Fannin County and a water treatment plant in northeastern Denton County.

"I am so pleased that this long unnecessary litigation by Flower Mound is finally over…if it is truly over," said Kevin Mercer, Upper Trinity’s president.

"It could have all been avoided if Flower Mound would just sit down with their fellow Members of Upper Trinity to work out what is best for this region."

But Flower Mound officials still have a bone to pick with their water provider. The town, along with neighboring Double Oak and Copper Canyon, are lobbying for an independent management review of the water district.

"We are optimistic that this step in the process will bring closure to an antiquated issue and allow the district to move forward in addressing more urgent matters, including their continually increasing water rates, their excessive debt level, and the overbuilding of district facilities and pipelines," said Michael Ryan, Flower Mound‘s Director of Public Affairs.